Local authorities spent the weekend communicating with Dykes and delivering food and clothes to the boy, setting up a compound close to the bunker to enable them towork 24 hours a day for the boy's release.

One heartbreaking facet of the situation lies in the fact that young "Ethan" will turn six years old this week. Ret. Lt. April McDaniel is collecting birthday cards for the boy and says while she's already received about 40, she expects thousands.

Local affiliates report that those wanting to send cards can mail them to the following address: